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Life of a re-enactor hot, hot, hot

Captain Dan Williams (left) and his wife Marie-Eve DuFort (right) of the 19th Light Dragoons participate in the reenactment of the Battle of Crysler's Farm on Saturday, July 11, 2015 in Cornwall, Ont. The volunteer reenactors are responsible to buy their own equipment and tend to their own horses. Brent Holmes/Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia Network

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Dan Williams, captain of the 19th Light Dragoons, walks into the officer's tent after an estimated 90-minute re-enactment of the Battle of Crysler's Farm.

He pulls off his wool navy coat, the inner lining is soaked with sweat. His white undershirt looks as though he has been standing in a torrential downpour.

The life of a war re-enactor involves a lot of hot, sweaty summer days. They sleep in period accurate tents on the weekends they run the re-enactments.

For Williams, the day starts early and it comes with added challenges -- namely, dealing with horses.

'I've always loved history," Williams said. "When I was a little kid, my parents took me to the battle of Stony Creek and I saw the redcoats marching around and just loved it and wanted to be one so bad."

Before becoming a war re-enactor, Williams served in the army and fought in Afghanistan. When he returned to Canada, he and his wife, Marie-Eve DuFort, combined their love of horses and love of history and started taking part in re-enactments.

Williams and DuFort have participated in war re-enactments for the past three years on a regular basis with their horses, Hero and India.

Over the past months, Williams has participated in a re-enactment at Stony Creek in Hamilton and a parade on Parliament Hill. Other members of the Dragoons are at Fort George this weekend.

The investment is significant -- war re-enactors are volunteers who have to buy their own equipment and gear. For the Dragoons this includes a uniform, two pistols, a steel 1796 sabre and a light carbine. But Williams has an added expense, estimating that they spend $5,000 to 6,000 per year on the horses.

Williams has also gone across the border for re-enactments, which comes with a lot more work.

"To bring our muskets is fine -- the horses are an entirely different ballgame," Williams said.

The horses require regular vet checks, tests for specific illnesses and also their own passport.

It doesn't make it easier that war r-enactments require a very specific type of horse. Williams and DuFort have gone through five horses so far, but they now have a horse who is excellent at dealing with the activities.

"Hero is a retired police horse, he's seen riots and he came with a lot of training," Williams said.

India, however, has been taking a while longer to get used to the routine. The horses can get startled when riding through battle scenarios with loud cannons and muskets.

Williams' day starts at six in the morning, before he or his wife can get breakfast, they have to immediately tend to the horses.

"The very first thing is check on the horses," he said. "We will feed them, water them, put them out to pasture, then we sit and have a coffee and breakfast. We are always very close to them."

Getting into period-accurate dress takes a while and the Light Dragoons rotate through taking care of the horses and getting ready for the day. Williams will have to go to an officer's meeting to play the day's reenactment.

By 10-10:30 a.m., Williams will be running drills with the horses, practising with a sword on watermelons and cabbages to get the horses used to the sword techniques. The horses are given a rest before the large scale re-enactments, usually taking place around 1-2 p.m., after which they are given a bath, either by hose or by sponge.

At 3 p.m., Williams can finally take a seat for lunch in the officer's tent.

This weekend will be a quieter weekend since it is kids free.

"There are 7-8 kids in the unit and they play and run around," Williams said. "(When they come) we couldn't do it without our ladies out there who help us with cooking and helping with the horses."